日志
2009年2月26日 上午5点02分17秒56
What can be extrapolated is constant, what cannot be is variable. Their shared purpose is to teach people to “bring about good fortune and avoid adversity”. The constants are a set number. I Ching, the Book of Changes knew the variables. One virtuous thought is a plus and one negative thought is a minus. So every day is simply a matter of calculating every plus, every minus, every multiplication, every division. If the margin of change is not too much then others can foretell our destiny with a reasonable degree of accuracy.
After having his destiny foretold by Mr. Kong, for twenty years Mr. Liao-Fan neither increased nor decreased his bad or good thoughts and deeds, but completely accorded with his destiny. For ordinary people usually there are some changes, one virtuous thought, one unkind deed, not like Mr. Liao-Fan who had no interest in doing good deeds or bad ones, but maintained a constancy throughout, thus, his destiny was remarkably accurate. If the good or bad deeds are changed enough then we would surpass the constant and, thus, “we can improve upon our good fortune and avoid adversity” and this is something we can strive for.
It is stated in the commentary, “Because all thoughts, viewpoints and behavior are ever-changing, so all the consequences of gain and loss, joy and pain seem flexible and changeable. These consequences can be added, subtracted, multiplied and divided, received and lost according with the behavior of each individual”.
A constant is the cause. A variable is the condition. The key to changing destiny is determined by the condition and it is the condition that Buddhism stresses. “All the infinite creations on earth and heaven arise from conditions”. All existing things arise from condition. By controlling this variable, we can change destiny. Then, we can pursue our own wishes and goals to gain remarkable, perfect results. The Buddha also told us in the sutra that “Impermanence, no ego, Nirvana”. Understanding this principle, we can become virtuous, sages, can become Arhats, Bodhisattvas, Buddhas.
“The very first chapter of I Ching, The Book of Changes also said, ‘Families who often perform kind deeds will have an excess of good fortune to pass on to the next generations.’ Do you believe this”? I replied “Yes”.
From this, we know that I Ching, The Book of Changes understood the constant, the cause, in this world, in the universe. However, it also knew that there is a variable, the condition within. By controlling this variable, on a smaller scale we can change our own destiny. On a larger scale, we can pursue lasting stability and peace for our country and our world.
The I Ching is truly extraordinary, however, it is a pity that now it has virtually become a fortune-telling book. As Mr. Guang-Xi Mei said in the preface of the Infinite Life Sutra, “Originally, the Amitabha Sutra was a teaching that helped us to transcend the cycle of birth and death to become a Buddha. But now it has become something for people to recite at memorial services to send off the deceased!” That the Amitabha Sutra has been reduced to this sad state is just like I Ching, the Book of Changes being reduced to a book for telling fortunes! It is a sad reflection on our times. I Ching, the Book of Changes was intended to teach us how to obtain happiness, world peace and stability, to change our destiny by accumulating merit and virtue. To do this, we first need to regret and reform. The Master asked Mr. Liao-Fan if he believed that a family, which practiced kind deeds would have so much good fortune that it would be passed on to the following generations. Mr. Liao-Fan replied “Yes”.
So, the essential factor that enabled Mr. Liao-Fan to change his destiny was his ability to deeply and to perfectly believe what the Master taught him. It was the maturing of his good roots and good fortune that provided him with opportunity to meet Master Yun-Gu. As the Buddha told us, “Good roots, merits and virtues, and conditions” are the ultimate benefit. When Mr. Liao-Fan had all three, how could his destiny not change?
Mr. Yu told us in his commentary that, “One who is doubtful when he or she hears kind words of encouragement from sages may even slander them. They thus commit the offense of doubt”. Kind words are the teachings of the sages of this world and beyond, later generations called these teachings sutras. The sutras tell us of the truths that never change. They surpass time and space. The truth that surpasses time is the same now, as it was thousands of years ago, it never changes whether in the east or in the west.
Upon reading this, we know that the writings and teachings of these sages, whether of our time or beyond, do not come from their personal experiences and opinions. If they did then they could be biased or inappropriate. History is accumulated experience. The sutras contain the truth, which arises from the true nature, the original nature. Thus, it is the absolute truth that surpasses time and space.